Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)

Often referred to as one of the ‘founding fathers of the United States’, Benjamin Franklin began his postal career as Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737 under the British Parliamentary Post. By 1753, he had been promoted as one of two Deputy Postmasters of British North America along with William Hunter. Franklin and Hunter streamlined the postal system to increase take up. Under their leadership, the Parliamentary Post became profitable.

Franklin was dismissed from his post in January 1774 for abusing the politician’s right to free mail.